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Grounded in restorative justice principles, Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) reduces sexual victimization by assisting people who have committed sexual offences to lead responsible, constructive, and accountable lives in their communities.
Involvement in CoSA reduces the likelihood of reoffending, increases the chances of successful reintegration, and helps to keep communities safe. Rigorous peer-reviewed studies indicate that participation in CoSA reduces sexual recidivism (reoffence rate) by up to 88%, compared with control subjects who do not participate in CoSA.
An investment of one dollar in CoSA has a cost-benefit of $4.60 in savings to society in terms of justice system costs, medical expenses, loss of productivity, and pain and suffering.
CoSA provides a context of support and accountability where people who have committed sexual offences, or core members, get help by paid staff and trained volunteers to meet their practical needs, develop deeper self-understanding, and make better choices to create a meaningful life and avoid relapse.
Although volunteers and core members are required to be involved in the program for at least one year, core members typically continue for approximately three to four years. CoSA is based on trusting relationships between the core member and their volunteers and CoSA staff. Role modeling is a major focus of what occurs in a Circle, and, in that sense, what is “caught” is more significant than what is “taught.” It has been observed that the most powerful aspect of a Circle is the sense of belonging that occurs both for the core member and for the volunteers.
Public Safety Canada has granted Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) Canada funding for a two-year project exploring virtual circles.
The purpose of this project is three-fold: 1) to broaden the availability of Circles to Core Members who do not live in areas where in-person Circles are accessible, 2) to work with CoSA sites to shorten Circle wait-lists, and 3) to recruit, train and supervise new and under-utilized volunteers across the country.
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Join a circle. Make a referral. Volunteer. Donate. There are many ways that you can contribute to safer communities.
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